Sen. James C. Rosapepe (D-Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties) doesn’t plan on running for comptroller in 2022, he told Maryland Matters Wednesday.
Rosapepe’s legislative resume led some to believe he’d be a strong candidate for comptroller: He is currently the vice chair of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, and was the vice chair of the House Ways and Means committee when he was a delegate.
The state’s current comptroller, Peter V.R. Franchot (D) is running for governor, meaning there won’t be an incumbent in the 2022 comptroller race. Franchot has handily won reelection three times since he was first elected as comptroller in 2006.
Sen. James C. Rosapepe (D-Prince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties)
But Rosapepe said that, while he weighed a comptroller bid last year, he has decided to run for reelection to the Maryland Senate. He cited the recent death of longtime Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., whose district included parts of Prince George’s County, as influencing his decision to remain in the Senate.
Rosapepe described Miller as a “fierce champion” of Prince George’s County.
“With his passing, the rest of us need to step up and do more,” Rosapepe said.
Rosapepe also cited the election of President Biden, and Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City), as reasons he felt comfortable staying in the Senate.
“I came to the conclusion that I could make a bigger contribution staying in the Senate, and working with the progressive leadership in the Senate on all the priorities we have for working people, the environment, education, et cetera,” Rosapepe said. “And I can also play a role helping Prince George’s County.”
Rosapepe joins Del. Kumar P. Barve (D-Montgomery) in deciding not to pursue a 2022 comptroller campaign.
Del. Brooke E. Lierman (D-Baltimore City) is heading an aggressive comptroller campaign, and has raised nearly $600,000 in her bid to become Maryland’s top fiscal officer.
Bowie Mayor Timothy J. Adams (D) has already formed an exploratory committee for a comptroller run, and is expected to enter the race. State Sen. Brian J. Feldman (D-Montgomery) and Montgomery County Councilman Tom Hucker, are also considering candidacies.
Hucker has a virtual fundraiser scheduled for Thursday evening, with U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D) and fellow County Councilmember Nancy Navarro (D) scheduled to speak. It isn’t clear whether he plans to address his political plans for 2022 there.
Rosapepe said there are “great candidates” for Maryland comptroller, but didn’t endorse anyone in particular.
Bennett Leckrone
Reporter
Bennett Leckrone was a Report for America corps member at Maryland Matters through May 2022. He is a December 2019 graduate of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. Leckrone has interned at The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Columbus Dispatch, PennLive.com, The Dayton Daily News and The Troy Daily News.
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